Savannah prides itself on trees, from the tunnel of live oaks shading Washington Avenue to the Southern magnolia memorializing Juliette Gordon Low at her birthplace. So it comes as a surprise to residents when mature trees are bulldozed in the name of progress.

Recent examples include an area near the entrance to Bonaventure Cemetery where a stand of trees came down to make way for a new mausoleum and Heritage Park nursing home on the southside where a large live oak was felled to allow for an expansion.

Despite Savannah’s swooning over its greenery, local tree ordinances do little to protect trees on private property, said Karen Jenkins, executive director of the Savannah Tree Foundation. In the battle of trees versus property rights, the latter wins.

Savannah’s ordinance does not prohibit the removal of mature trees on private property as is the case in some other cities such as Portland, Ore. Instead, Savannah has a point system that gives landowners the option to retain what they have or plant new trees.

The removal of the nursing home’s live oak, which had a trunk five feet in diameter, prompted Alderman Tony Thomas and Alderwoman Mary Osborne to propose that developers meet with concerned residents before axing mature trees.

Jenkins and the Tree Foundation, who were pleased with the home’s voluntary donation of $2,500 to plant new trees, would nevertheless like the city’s ordinance to prevent other private property tree losses.

In the meantime, when property owners choose to retain trees, that’s a cause for celebration at the Tree Foundation. That’s the case at Critz BMW at White Bluff Road and Stephenson Avenue.

The dealership recently expanded but made special accommodation for a 100-plus-year-old live oak on the premises.

“We call it a monumental tree,” said owner and president Dale Critz Jr. “Obviously it’s been there as long as we’ve owned the property.”

Critz’s father bought the property in 1969.

Saving the live oak took care of 90 percent of the tree points the city required, and the dealership didn’t have to put in any new shade trees, Critz said.

The tree-hugging move was especially rare for a car dealership, Jenkins said. They typically don’t want mature trees that attract birds, a nuisance around shiny new cars.

“We got a little lucky with the configuration of the lot,” Critz said. “Where the tree is was not a display area. It’s in front of the service department.”

At the advice of local arborists, Critz left a concrete apron in place around the tree until construction finished. The concrete was then replaced by pavers that allow water to seep through.

During the 30,000-square-foot build-out, Critz erected chain link fencing to protect the tree from construction vehicles. Because the tree is taller than the building, lightning protection was installed at its crown.

Numerous mature oaks were removed or lost during the 2005 Stephenson Avenue expansion and to other redevelopment projects along the busy corridor. The Critz Oak is one of the few remaining mature, healthy live oaks on the street.

“It’s not the biggest tree in the city but it’s a mature, healthy, beautiful tree that’s still standing thanks to some careful planning,” Jenkins said.

IF YOU GO

At the Critz BMW’s grand opening from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at White Bluff and Abercorn, the Savannah Tree Foundation will present Critz Auto Group with an award created in their honor, the first in what is planned as a series of recognitions to Savannah businesses.

The plaques are to be crafted by local woodworker, Steve Cook, from sections of the 149-year old magnolia that died of natural causes and was cut down in September in Monterey Square.

Critz has pledged to make a donation to the Savannah Tree Foundation on behalf of each attendee.

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